Category: Obituaries

Jim received a BS in physics (’73) from Missouri University of Science and Technology and a PhD in physics (’78) from UW Madison. In the two years after earning his doctorate, he was a research associate at Stanford University; he then returned to UW Madison, where he was a professor from 1980-2022 when he retired. He was an atomic, molecular, and optical physicist with a focus developing and applying laser spectroscopic techniques for determining accurate absolute atomic transition probabilities.

Jim received a BS in physics (’73) from Missouri University of Science and Technology and a PhD in physics (’78) from UW Madison. In the two years after earning his doctorate, he was a research associate at Stanford University; he then returned to UW Madison, where he was a professor from 1980-2022 when he retired.

In the early 1980s, she worked for the precursor to DOIT at the UW, where she met her lifelong friends Lis Owens and Bernadette Rhiel. From 1991 to her retirement in 2014, Joan served as the Administrator in the German Department at the UW, where she made many friends among the faculty and graduate students, too many really to mention individually.

She eventually became Program Director in Distance Education Professional Development at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before retiring in 2013.

Jack began his career as a teacher and principal in the Racine and Madison school districts, but he spent most of his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was hired as the first Director of High School Relations in 1963. In his 31 years there, he was also Director of Undergraduate Orientation, New Student Services, and Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions. He was instrumental in developing the SOAR program and was Marshall at UW commencement ceremonies for 20 years.

Chuck (81), “a scholar and fine gentleman” was a Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 44 years. During his tenure, he served as Chair of the Psychology Dept, director of the Honors Program at the College of Letters and Science, editor of major scientific journals, and oversaw several undergrad research symposia.

He taught for years at the UW Medical School. He interviewed applicants who wanted to become doctors, amazing them when he asked more about their views on life and travel and literature than about chemistry or biology.

In 1961, Mr. Weidenfeld enrolled at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he majored in political science. He was active in civil rights protests — he later traveled to Alabama to participate in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march — as well as in other extracurricular activities favored by students.

He worked for the University of Wisconsin, Madison within the Physical Plant Department as a U.S. Mail Distributor for 35 years until retirement in January, 2002.

For most of his career, John worked as an entomologist for the USDA at the UW Russell research labs where he further specialized in the study of honeybees. The study of insects was a lifelong passion of his that included beekeeping at home, which provided fresh honey to family and friends for many years.

Grace worked at General Casualty Insurance for a few years until she found the jobs she loved, being a wife, a mother and being the proverbial part time “Lunch Lady” at both Witte Hall on the UW campus and for many years at Kennedy Elementary School.

Mr. East worked at the UW School of Library and Information Studies from 1966 until 2000.

In 1974, Joan started her career at the Waisman Center, UW – Madison, eventually becoming a Clinical Professor. She developed the Genetic Counseling Training Program (first graduating class of 1978 at the UW Madison). During her professional career of teaching and promoting she instructed the importance of genetic counseling.

After the University of Wisconsin, aged 23, she moved to New York to make her name on the stage, but a few months after photographing Einstein, travelled to Paris with a girlfriend. “France was coming out of the war and there were a lot of foreigners in Paris including many expat Americans, so I got to meet lots of people. Looking back, it was a fantastic time. There was just so much energy.”

Mr. East worked at the UW School of Library and Information Studies from 1966 until 2000.

Paul was a graduate of UW-Madison in psychology and continued to work at UW as a Systems Engineering Consultant at the Biotechnology Center. He was a co-author of a number of scientific papers, including one on the metabolism of phytopathogenic enterobacteria.

He taught for years at the UW Medical School. He interviewed applicants who wanted to become doctors, amazing them when he asked more about their views on life and travel and literature than about chemistry or biology. He spoke all over the world about his area of acclaimed expertise. He trained hundreds of doctors, nurses, medical personnel, and was a lifelong mentor to many.

For most of his career, John worked as an entomologist for the USDA at the UW Russell research labs where he further specialized in the study of honeybees. The study of insects was a lifelong passion of his that included beekeeping at home, which provided fresh honey to family and friends for many years.

Noted: His parents bought a local Wausau radio station in 1958 for $54,000, renaming it WRIG. Wright worked as the station’s general manager, after serving in the National Guard and earning a business degree from the University of Wisconsin.

After a residency in Retina at the University of Iowa, they moved to Madison, where he worked as a Professor of Ophthalmology at UW Madison Hospital and Clinics for over 44 years.

After teaching 5th and 6th grade at Gompers Elementary School for four years, she taught Elementary Science at UW, inspiring teachers to confidently teach science in their classrooms. In 1993, Jean established the Science Teacher’s Scholarship Fund at UW. She also served three year terms on the UW Board of Visitors for the School of Education, and the Board of the Friends of the UW Arboretum.

She was a retired Program Assistant at UW-Madison Women’s Studies Dept.

After seven years at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, in 1970, he took a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Department of Molecular Biology, where he was largely focused on cancer research.

In 1974 Joan started her career at the Waisman Center, UW -Madison, eventually becoming a Clinical Professor. She developed the Genetic Counseling Training Program (first graduating class of 1978 at the UW Madison).

She was a professor of physical therapy at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Galveston).

He was a research associate for the UW-Madison Department of Family Medicine and Practice from 1971 to 1974, then was coordinator of the statewide oral history program at the State Historical Society until December 1982.

In 1958 he joined the UW Extension Program as Waukesha County Recreation Agent, rising to the position of District Director for the Southern District and Full Professor in the Department of Community Development. Upon his retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus by the UW Board of Regents and commended for Outstanding Service by the governor and legislature of the state of Wisconsin.

Carl worked for the University of Wisconsin in various business office roles and in several departments over his career, finishing as a payroll financial specialist at the Nelson Institute.

Dick served several years as the State Extension Program Leader in Wisconsin Agricultural Extension and received the Award for Superior Service from the United States Department of Agriculture. He served as a professor at UW Madison in agriculture and marketing for thirty years, specializing in research and also teaching agribusiness and marketing.

While at UW, Dean founded and developed LifeMapping, an interactive virtual cartography tool for chronicling one’s personal life journey. At the time of his death, Dean continued his work with LifeMapping and was a UW-Madison Police Department Security Officer.

Carolyn joined the faculty of the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1973, and over the next 25 years provided significant leadership in psychiatric nursing and doctoral nursing education.

In 1966, she worked in the UW-Extension as a Specialist in the Division of Community Programs, with responsibility for enhancing and expanding partnerships between the University of Wisconsin and four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She earned a Master’s Degree from the UW-Madison and retired in 1987 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cooperative Extension Services at the UW-Extension.

She became employed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the English Department, which was the largest department in the College of Letters and Sciences at the university. She served six years as Administrative Assistant for the department and the department chairman; three of those years she was also Administrative Assistant for Professor Helen C. White, world-renowned English literature scholar, for whom the Helen C. White Library on the UW-Madison Campus is named. In 1966, Professor White requested that Dolores be given a 20% raise, stating: “She maintains a very cheerful and efficient office. Indeed, she is a fine leader and executive. She has more than earned it.”

Sheila returned to Wisconsin in 1994, where she became Director of International Student and Scholar Services, until she retired in 2002.

He worked at Rayovac and Graber, then went on to become a machinist at the University of Wisconsin in the Physics and Chemistry departments.

They moved to Madison in 1965, when Ernie joined the UW business school faculty. Ernie spent 37 fulfilling years as a faculty member. He was a dedicated and positive teacher as he engaged students at all levels of instruction.

Cathy dedicated her career to advancing groundbreaking technologies from laboratory to patient, first as a pivotal member of the pioneering team at Stratatech in Madison, WI, and later as Executive Director of the Forward Bio Institute at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She was a leader in regenerative medicine and a mentor to many throughout her life.

Jim worked for many years for the UW – Madison campus police department.

Arthur worked for the University of Wisconsin in Madison about 30 years, and most of that time was spent as a lab technician at the Biochemistry Pilot Plant helping students set up their growth of different microbiology (ex. yeasts and algae) in large growth chambers.

Later in life she took a position at the University of Wisconsin Small Business Development Center where she stayed until her retirement this past year.

In 1973, Rob accepted a postdoc position at the Enzyme Institute in Madison, kicking off a 35-year career in heart research at the University of Wisconsin.

He received his Ph.D. from Cornell University and spent the better part of his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison conducting dairy related research and outreach.

Bob pursued his PhD in chemistry at Harvard University before igniting a highly successful career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he became the Eugene G. Rochow Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Organosilicon Research Center.

From 1954 to 1983, Norris was an instructor with the University of Wisconsin School for Workers.

In 1997, Carl became Director of Patents and Licensing at WARF, a foundation formed to patent and commercialize inventions developed at the University of Wisconsin and to use the revenue derived from those inventions to fund research and further the University of Wisconsin’s mission. He became Managing Director in 2000, retiring in 2016. During his tenure, the WARF endowment grew significantly, allowing WARF to give hundreds of millions of dollars to the UW. Carl strongly believed that WARF should fund and support developing technologies and startup companies.

Jerry received his PhD from the Department of Veterinary Science at the University of Wisconsin in 1971, and joined the UW-Madison faculty as an assistant professor that same year, becoming a professor in 1977.

When, in 1966, Robert was offered an Associate Professorship at his beloved UW Madison, the family returned to Wisconsin, and built a house on Shenandoah Way that would be the Kauffman’s family home for the next 50 years.

Noted: Escaping life on the family farm, he took that interest with him to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a Goldwater Republican who could happily mingle with radicals on marches for civil rights. He majored in history and stayed on for a law degree.

A Durham native who earned advanced degrees from the University of Wisconsin and John Hopkins University, Fisher entered politics after a career as a practicing physician in both family practice and corporate settings. She settled in Salisbury.

He went on to enjoy decades of fulfilling teaching and astronomy research at University of Wisconsin-Madison where he specialized in UV astronomy, studying the interstellar medium known as “star dust.”

Ann worked for the UW in many departments on campus over the years before retiring in 2010.

She retired from the University of Wisconsin Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering on February 14, 1997.

She worked for Satterfield Electronics for several years and then worked and retired from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after 30 years.

She retired with Emeritus status from the University of Wisconsin Madison Office of Biological Safety.

She was employed for 20 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, retiring as a financial specialist from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, UW-Madison, in 2006.

He received his Ph. D. from the University of Marburg in 1955 in German literature, art history, history and philosophy, and joined the Department of German in Madison in 1958, soon helping to put the Department and the UW-Madison on the map nationally and internationally. For decades, he was among a handful of Germanists with world-wide fame, in demand all over the globe as a speaker.

Connie was a well-known member within the Middleton and Madison communities through her work with University of Wisconsin Extension, progressive political causes, and the Middleton League of Women Voters.

Barbara worked for the duplicating service within the UW-Madison campus for 30 years before her retirement.